Causeway get it done in extra-time
COUNTY U-21 HURLING CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL
Causeway 1-12 Crotta O’Neills 0-10
(after extra-time)
THE final scoreline in the County U-21 Hurling Championship didn’t exactly reflect what was a pretty pulsating contest in the Austin Stack Park last Saturday afternoon, in a game that could have gone either way, and was one that Crotta could well have snatched in a nail-biting finish in normal time.
However, in extra-time Causeway proved to be the more experienced and resourceful side, and while the only goal of the game in the dying minutes ultimately put the issue beyond doubt, Crotta, just two points adrift as the game came to its conclusion, still retained the possibility of a last gasp win.
They went close to securing what would have been a crucial goal in the second period of extra time, but Causeway with more influential performers in pivotal positions, along with a better scoring return from play, just about deserved to succeed and after their agonising loss to Ballyduff in the Senior competition it offered due reward at the tail end of the season.
Extremely difficult conditions militated greatly against any free flowing fare, but the driving wind and rain certainly didn’t dampen the enthusiasm or lessen the spirits of each and every participant with Championship fervour being very much a feature throughout. Three excellent points, all converted from play inside the opening three minutes meant that Causeway opened up a marginal 0-2 to 0-1 lead at the outset of proceedings.
With Jason Diggin a cornerstone in defence for them, Causeway with the aid of the elements enjoyed territorial supremacy for most of the opening quarter and had opened up a four-point lead, 0-5 to 0-1, at the end of this particular period of play. Crotta against a more physically imposing Causeway fifteen found it difficult early on to get to grips with the situation and with Causeways’s Gary Carey unerring from both play and placed balls they maintained their scoring advantage coming up to the half time break being five points in front 0-7 0-2 with three minutes remaining in the half.
They were somewhat fortunate to retire for the interval with the full complement of players available to them with a yellow card being shown for an off the ball incident which could, maybe should have been a red card offence. A four-point interval deficit 0-7 0-3 certainly wasn’t an insurmountable lead as far as Crotta were concerned who restarted with a lot more urgency epitomised by the efforts of Tomas O Connor in midfield, and, with Jordan Conway introduced as a half time substitute they created all of the early scoring opportunities.
However, it was Causeway who scored first, extending their lead even further, courtesy of another pointed free from Gary Carey. It proved to be Causeway’s only score during the entire second half, and, with Darragh Behan defending with a lot of assurance and Barry Mahony providing a dynamic input Crotta narrowed the gap being three points adrift 0-8 0-5 at the end of the third quarter.
Some tremendous defensive play from Causeway with Billy Lyons, Evan Murphy and Jason Diggin all effecting some timely blocks and interceptions kept Crotta at bay for a period, and, after frees had been missed at opposite ends, Brandon Barrett with a surging run, under pressure manoeuvred himself into a goal scoring position, but his effort drifted narrowly wide past the advancing goalkeeper.
A let off for Crotta who reacted with three unanswered points from Barry Mahony to level matters on eight points apiece by the 52nd minute.
Certainly, no quarter asked or given with a series of throw ins by the match referee reflecting the intensity of the encounter. A final chance for Crotta to secure a match winning score in a most advantageous position in front of goal, but again the Causeway defence came to their rescue, thereby necessitating extra-time to decide the destination of the title. With momentum Crotta looked as if they had the capability to go on and seal the outcome at that juncture. However, with Joseph Diggin making a notable input and Brandon Barrett continuing to offer admirable leadership in attack Causeway opened up a two-point to 0-9, by the end of the first period. In a pretty frantic encounter they retained that particular advantage to the midway point in the final ten minutes of play. A precarious lead, and, the gap, 0-11 enthusiastic Causeway support must have been reflecting on Gary O’Brien’s late goal in the Senior Championship. They did have to endure some anxious moments as Crotta laid siege in their efforts to salvage the situation in an extremely exciting finale. However, a defensive lapse allowed Joseph Diggin a clear run in on goal, and, he applied a neat and precise finish for the game’s only goal and clinching score. It sparked enthusiastic celebrations and Causeways’s reaction at the final whistle summed up the type of emotion which a title win will trigger. Whether it will translate into Senior success one can only speculate, but as of now it’s just all about basking in the glory of this particular success. Crotta, as expected, were resolute, determined and full of passion and belief. They fell short, just about, but with mostly all of their squad under age for next year’s competition the future looks bright for them with all of the proper building blocks being firmly put in place. CAUSEWAY: Darren Barrett, Dylan Burke, Billy Lyons, Ger Leen, Evan Murphy, Jason Diggin, Jamie McGrath,